Over the past week I have been reading a couple of books by Lester Ruth; A Little Heaven Below: Worship at Early Methodist Quarterly Meetings
In Early Methodist Life and Spirituality I came across the following quote: “Methodists found totally unacceptable any suggestion that there was some limit – particularly a God-determined limit – to the scope of God’s saving work in Christ.” (70)
Do we still find any suggestion that there are limits to the scope of God’s saving work in Christ totally unacceptable? It seems to me that people are much too quick to accept the limitations of life in this world as unavoidable and inevitable. I have noticed a tendency to quickly move to extremes when discussing the expectations of the Christian life that seem to work as a sort of defense mechanism…. “If all Christians did that, then I guess there just wouldn’t be any Christians anymore.” (Or something to that effect.)
This appears to be an expression of a lamentable failure of imagination. Part of what Lester Ruth seems to be suggesting is that early American Methodists refused to allow any restraints on God’s ability to save through Christ. If there were going to be limits, they would have to be elsewhere. This belief that God could fully save through Christ was expressed in two key ways: universal atonement (all can find salvation in Christ) and Christian perfection or entire sanctification (all can be made perfect in love).
In my experience (albeit limited), most Methodists find the idea of entire sanctification quaint, or even absurd. Yet, I long to see the ways in which God’s Spirit would move in Methodism again if we were to cease being so quick to rationalize our tendency to sin and instead stubbornly, adamantly, and unapologetically refuse to accept any limits to the scope of God’s saving work in Christ. The United Methodist Church is, after all, filled with ordained ministers who have answer in the affirmative the historic questions “Are you going on to perfection?” and “Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?” This is not a work that we perform to merit God’s grace. On the contrary, the best answer to both of these questions is, “Yes, by the grace of God.”
Kevin M. Watson 
Great post, Kevin. Thanks. (I have nothing to add except my: “Amen.”)
You say: In my experience (albeit limited), most Methodists find the idea of entire sanctification quaint, or even absurd. Yet, I long to see the ways in which God’s Spirit would move in Methodism again if we were to cease being so quick to rationalize our tendency to sin and instead stubbornly, adamantly, and unapologetically refuse to accept any limits to the scope of God’s saving work in Christ.
I seems to me that “Christian perfection” was the underlying theme of John Wesley’s whole spiritual journey. It was also, in a sense, the theme of methodism, since the method itself was designed and intended to produce real Christians – ones that actually lived out their faith. At the heart of all this was a radical, optimisitc belief in the unlimited possibilities of God’s grace.
Craig, Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comments.
I am not sure I follow your comment. You seem to be taking issue with the part of the post you cite. However, your response seems to simply restate the point of my post. Perhaps the confusion is that I was not more clear in the passage you cite that I am referring there to Methodists today as opposed to what Wesley and the early Methodists believed and lived. In other words, in early Methodism entire sanctification was preached, taught, believed, and (most importantly) experienced. Today, laughter is commonly heard during the clergy session when ordinands are asked if they expect to be made perfect in love in this life.
(If I am still understanding the thrust of your comment, my apologies!) Thanks for the interaction.
No. I’m unclear. I agree with your post – take it as another (but more lengthy & confusing) “Amen.”
Thank Craig. Glad we are on the same page.
Dear God,
Awaken us to the wonder and power of your grace.
Reduce our confidence in the flesh, the world, and philosophies that promise liberty but produce slavery. Make your grace real to us, central to us, and preeminent in our relationships and communication to others. We yearn to become the masterpieces of your grace…forgiven, cleansed, mature, and yes perfect (complete). In and through and for Christ our Lord,
Amen.
David D. Player
Pingback: Links on Friday « Ramblings from Red Rose
AMEN!